Chapter 49 Lonely At The Top

The picnic basket fit perfectly on the back of his bike. The man at the equipment office told them several times not to go off the path. There were no dangers as far as snakes or anything, it's just that the landscape becomes repetitive and it's easy to get lost. He also warned them to be back by sunset. It was already afternoon and it gets very dark in the desert at night. They made their way out of town and headed for the hills.

The sun was warm, but not uncomfortable. Rose was glad of the large floppy hat she had picked up on the office wall. Her skin, so fair, it sunburns easily. They rode for several hours covering much of the trail that was recommended for an easy ride. There were others they greeted as they passed, but no long conversations. Stopping to have their picnic and a short nap in the shade of a massive boulder that was suspended by a slim column of rock.

It was wonderful, peaceful, side by side on the paved trail. With the sun going down, the mountain was stunning. The sky yellow shifting to red. All the colors and shadows. At the bottom of a high bluff there were stairs you could take to the top and see for miles in all directions. The desert seemed to go on forever up there, quiet, and lifeless. Yet it held such serene beauty.

Rose looked over at the Time Lord. Were there tears in his eyes? She came closer and held his hand. "Why?" was all she said. He looked down embarrassed, "It reminds me of the dry lands of Gallifrey. The same stark beauty and smell of stone in the air. Only there was life on my planet. Trees of silver, fields of tall red grass and small creatures at every turn. Two suns made the evening sky a burnt orange at night. I wish you could have seen Arcadia and the Capital, strong and proud, their domes rising from the ground to soar far above you. Filled with people going about their business. Never thinking it could ever end.

All those centuries I spent running away from Gallifrey. Even when they elected me Lord President, twice, I still would not stay. What I wouldn't give to have an hour of that time again. To walk her streets and smell the food from a café, the music and the chatter." He squeezed his eyes closed. But I don't deserve to see it again. It was I who destroyed it."

Rose put her hand to his face and kissed him gently on the cheek. "You're so lucky I'm not my mum, because she'd slap you right now, hard!" Her harsh words stung, and he stepped away from her. Rose was furious, "What do I have to do to get through to you? We've been around this corner before and I told you I won't allow that kind of talk. It was not your fault. You did not wake up one day and say, I feel like blowing up the planet today.

The Daleks destroyed Gallifrey not you! They bombed and battered and ripped your world to pieces. They slaughtered and maimed and tortured your people until there was only blood and broken bodies. They left Arcadia and the Capital in burned out ruins and ash."

Her voice took on a very low, dark and deadly tone, "And then you avenged your people and made the Daleks pay for their crime. Bringing peace. After of 300 years of war." She took his hand and placed it on her cheek. Softening her tone, "I know one day you will find a way to bring your people and that café and the Capitol dome back. Because I believe in you. And if I'm very, very lucky, I hope to be able to help you do it."

The Time Lord reached for her and held her close. "I hope you can be there too. Now that my time will be my own again, I intend to continue my studies on how to make that happen."

The last of the sun's light was fading, and they realized they needed to get down that stairway quickly. The man at the equipment shop was right. It was very dark. He went first as his eyesight was ten times better than hers. Rose slipped on some looses stone on the stairs nearly falling. He caught her quickly and then they took the stairs slowly, one at a time, and he held her hand all the way down. A fall from here would be just as deadly as that six-story building.

They were at the bottom and she went to get on her bike when he grabbed her about the waist kissing her as if his life depended on it. He held her tight and said softly, "You scared me, but you're safe now." She giggled a bit and said, "You're not." As she pulled up his shirt, and put her hand in his pants to grab his bum. "Rose!" he protested. "What are you doing? We need to get back."

She looked at him like he was an idiot, "Why? You can see in just starlight, can't you?" "Well, yes." "And the moon will be rising soon?" He began to get the idea and pulled her closer as she continued. "And were all alone approximately five miles from town?" He made a face as if to be shocked, "Rose Tyler Smith! Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" She latched onto his neck and he pulled them to the ground. "Where's the picnic blanket?" They said in tandem.

They rode back into town both grinning from ear to ear as they pulled into the equipment shed. The man in the office was frantic. "I'm so glad to see you safe. I was about to send out a search party." The Time Lord answered without taking his gaze from Rose, "We didn't get lost, just, took our time getting back. Sorry to worry you." The man could see they were preoccupied with each other. It wasn't the first time a couple had done this after all. "Of course sir. I'll take care of everything. You have a good night."

The Time Lord put his arm around Rose as they walked down the street. "Do you think he suspected?" She whispered. "He'd be a fool if he didn't." He replied. "I don't care if the whole world knows we made love in the desert. I could take you again right here!" His eyes were on fire and his arm tightened around her. She responded with a wink, "I'd almost let you." She giggled, "But I need to do something about all that sand in all the wrong places." He smiled, "Sounds like you need a shower. Care for some company?"

They wandered into the lobby of the hotel and headed for the elevator. There were people in with them for the ride to their floor or they might have been tempted to start there. When they got into the room he chased her to the bathroom. Rose squealing and laughing as she ran in the shower with her clothes still on. He caught up to her and turned on the water, kissing her face, her throat. His hands struggled with the wet fabric as he removed her top and bra.

Her blue jeans were stuck on tight as wet cotton tends to swell. It did not deter him as he made a special project of pulling them down an inch at a time until she was free of them. Planting kisses as he went. He was kneeling at her feet when she pulled his shirt off. He liked the position he was in, but his wet trousers became too binding and he stood to remove them, her underwear falling from his pocket. Rose grabbed the scented body wash and began to wipe away the desert dust and the sweat from the ride. He stood back and watched her. She saw him, and slowed and exaggerated her movements. He had never seen anything so erotic, and it showed on him.

She came to him, and he was about to caress her, when she turned them around and pushed him under the water. Pouring more soap in her hands she started with his chest and shoulders, rubbing the sweet-scented oils into his skin. Moving down she paid special attention to his groin, sliding her hand back and forth until he begged her to either stop or go faster.

She stopped, and put her hands around to his back and tight butt, rubbing the soap into a lather and her body into his. She was going to do his legs, but he could stand no more. He pulled her under the warm water kissing her roughly until they were both rinsed off. He never let her lips leave his as he picked her up by her hips to leave the shower. She wrapped her legs around his hips pressing hard against his erection.

There had been enough foreplay and he entered her as she hit the bed. Their cries of passion betrayed how close they were to completion and they both went over the edge in moments. They lay in each other's arms gasping for breath. Smiling at each other still dripping. Rose's breathing slowed and she got up to turn off the water and came back to bed. He rested on his elbow to watch her. When she came back into the room he stared in utter helplessness against her power over him. She climbed back in bed and lay in his arms, almost purring with contentment.

He turned off the light and slept deeply as never before.

Chapter 50 Mischief